Improvement in hop-presses



- -Nb.'2O6, 977.

a. A; SANDS. Hop-Press.

NFEI'ERS. PHOTO .PatentedAug. 13;]878.

. a I I ATTORNEYS.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES A. SANDS, OF BURLINGTON, KANSAS.

IM PROVEM ENT IN HOP-PRESSES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 206,977, dated August 13, 1878; application filed July 2, 1878.

ticaltransverse section of the same on line 00 as, Fig. 1.

. Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

This invention relates to an improved press for packing and baling hops, by which the hops are not broken up or mixed with dust and dirt, and by which more hops can be put in a bale, at a considerable saving in the expense for labor and bagging; and the invention consists of a press that is extended through two stories, and arranged with an upper packing-box having hinged side door with flexible sides, and of alower press-box having hinged and locking side doors.

The sack is hung to curved hooks at theupper ends of the hinged side doors and to hooks of hinged sections or blocks'of the intermediate side walls, the hops being packed and compressed in the sack by a heavyfollower, and finally removed by opening the side doors. l

Referring to the drawings, A represents a hop -press of suitable size, that is so constructed as to extend through two stories of a building, the part of the press above the dividing-floor being the charging-chamber, the lower part below the floor the press-box proper.

The upper part or charging-chamber is provided with hinged doors B, that are connected by leather or other flexible sides with the main frame of the press, so as to form a kind of hopper at one or'more sides of the press for conveniently charging the press with hops. WVhen the press-box and upper chamber are filled with hops the charging doors 13 are closed and the hops compressed by a follower, G, that is lowered by suitable horse-power applied to a cross-piece, O, guided in slots of the upper part of thepress.

The press-box has hinged doors D at opposite sides, which are hinged at their upper ends to the press, and locked when closed by one or more pivoted cross-pieces, a, that are secured to side bands or staples I). From the upper inside edge of the side doors project upwardly-curved hooks d, that fit into corresponding recesses of the walls of the charging-chamber, and serve for the purpose of attaching the upper part of the bag or sack into which the hops are to be compressed. The remaining walls of the press-box are provided with short hinged sections or blocks 1), that have hooks cl, similar to those on the side doors, so as to support the sack around its entire upper edge.

When the sackishnn g to the hooks of the side doors and blocks the doors and blocks are closed and locked, and the press-box is then ready for receiving the hops. When the sack is entirely filled with hops byrepeated charges'and compressions, the sack is tied and hooped by opening the side doors. The walls of the press-box are grooved for conveniently passing thebands or wires around thebale, which is then removed for bein g marked and branded. WVooden heads are used in connection with the sack for more convenient balin g. The hops are not brought in contact with the ground, and thereby not mixedwith dirt or dust, and are compressed into small compass at a saving of expense for labor, bagging, and shipping. The heavy follower is first used for packing the hops into the pres short by lowering the same after each charge, and then for finally compressing them by applying the horsepower to the follower.

Having thus fully described myinvention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent In a hop-press, the combination of the press-box with hlnged side doors and hinged blocks or sections, said doors and blocks havin g at their upper edges hooks for suspending the sack, substantially as specified.

. CHAS. A. SANDS.

Witnesses:

PAUL GonrEL, O. SEDGWIGK. 

